US20060168548A1 - Gui pointer automatic position vectoring - Google Patents
Gui pointer automatic position vectoring Download PDFInfo
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- US20060168548A1 US20060168548A1 US10/905,853 US90585305A US2006168548A1 US 20060168548 A1 US20060168548 A1 US 20060168548A1 US 90585305 A US90585305 A US 90585305A US 2006168548 A1 US2006168548 A1 US 2006168548A1
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 92
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 36
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 44
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 10
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001413 cellular effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- G06F3/0481—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
- G06F3/04812—Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- G06F3/0484—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
- G06F3/04842—Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to graphical user interfaces and more particularly to a method and system for vectoring a pointer to a target item on a graphical user interface display.
- GUI Graphical User Interface
- Microsoft Windows® and Apple Macintosh® include the following basic features: a display screen, a pointer, selectable items and a pointing device.
- the pointer (also sometimes referred to as a cursor) is a small symbol that usually appears on the display screen as an angled arrow.
- the pointer is moveable via a pointing device to selectable items such as links, hyperlinks, universal resource locators, icons, command buttons, menu items, task bar items, scroll bar item and the like.
- a pointing device is a mouse, track ball, pad, track point device, joy stick, stylus, light pen, or other device that allows a user to input pointer movement and to select an item on the display.
- the present invention comprises a method and computer system for controlling movement of a pointer on a graphical user interface display by automatically vectoring the pointer to a target item.
- One embodiment of the method receives a keyboard-based pointer movement input having a direction of travel on a display towards a target item, such as a link, hyperlink, universal resource locator, icon, command button, menu item, task bar item, tool bar item, scroll bar item, etc.
- a target item such as a link, hyperlink, universal resource locator, icon, command button, menu item, task bar item, tool bar item, scroll bar item, etc.
- the invention vectors the pointer on the display to a located target item.
- the location of the target item from amongst possible target items on the display can be extrapolated based upon programmed limitations (e.g., user definable selectable items and/or sections on the display, a vector angle range, the relative closeness of each possible target item to either the direction of travel vector, the initial anchor position or both, etc.).
- programmed limitations e.g., user definable selectable items and/or sections on the display, a vector angle range, the relative closeness of each possible target item to either the direction of travel vector, the initial anchor position or both, etc.
- the control program upon receiving a direction of travel input, the control program locates the target item and jumps the pointer directly to that target item on the display.
- the keyboard-based pointer movement of this embodiment can include simultaneous operation of multiple keys on a keyboard such as the “Shift” key and one or more of the arrow keys on a keyboard.
- Another embodiment of the method establishes vector sensitivity to limit pointer movement.
- the user establishes vector sensitivity by defining a vector angle range.
- the pointer movement input is received again via a keyboard-based input device or via another input device (e.g., a mouse, track ball, pad, track point device, stylus, joy stick, light pen, etc.) and a direction of travel vector is determined.
- the vector angle range is an angle that is bisected by the direction of travel vector.
- the intended target item may only be identified from amongst possible target items found within the area of the vector angle range and the pointer may thus only be vectored (i.e., jumped) to a target item within this area.
- Decreased sensitivity is established by defining a greater vector angle range, because this creates a broader area within which a target item on the display may be located and vice versa.
- the user may limit pointer movement by defining the items or the sections of the display to which the pointer may be automatically vectored.
- the user may activate automatic selection of selectable items. Thus, once a pointer is vectored to a target item that item is automatically selected.
- One embodiment of the computer system of the invention comprises a central processing unit with a graphical user interface and a display with selectable items (e.g., a link, hyperlink, universal resource locator, icon, command button, menu item, task bar item, tool bar item, scroll bar item, etc.) and a pointer.
- selectable items e.g., a link, hyperlink, universal resource locator, icon, command button, menu item, task bar item, tool bar item, scroll bar item, etc.
- a pointer movement input device e.g., a mouse, track ball, pad, track point device, stylus, joy stick, light pen, customized keyboard, etc.
- the computer system further comprises a controller that determines a direction of travel vector towards a target item based upon pointing device input, extrapolates the location of the target item, and moves the pointer to that target item.
- the process used to extrapolate the location of the target item from amongst possible target items can be based upon the direction of travel vector, vector sensitivity, additional user definable or default limits (e.g., user definable selectable items and/or sections of the display), and the relative closeness of each possible target item to either the direction of travel vector, the initial anchor position or both, etc.
- a user may elect that the controller automatically selects a selectable target item upon moving the pointer to that target item.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustration of one embodiment of a computer system of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary display
- FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another exemplary display
- FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating another exemplary display
- FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating several embodiments of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a flow diagram further illustrating a method process of FIG. 5 ;
- FIG. 7 is a flow diagram further illustrating a method process of FIG. 6 ;
- FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the invention.
- the present invention comprises a method and computer system for accurately controlling movement of a pointer on a graphical user interface display.
- the invention as described herein applies to all GUI based operating systems (e.g. Linux®, MS Windows®, Unix®, Apple Macintosh® etc.).
- FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a computer system 10 according to the present invention.
- the computer system 10 includes a central processing unit 14 , a video monitor 13 , an optional keyboard 11 and a pointing device 12 .
- the system 10 further comprises a graphical user interface with a display 15 having selectable items (e.g., a link, hyperlink, universal resource locator, icon, command button, menu item, task bar item, tool bar, scroll bar item, etc.) and a pointer (also referred to as a cursor).
- the system 10 further comprises a software application having an automatic pointer position vectoring control program.
- the display 15 is illustrated in FIG. 2 and described in greater detail below.
- FIG. 1 comprises a personal computer; however, the invention may incorporate, but is not limited to, personal computers, laptops, workstations, or hand held computers including palm pilots, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, smart telephones, etc.
- An exemplary pointing device 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a mouse; however, the pointing device may be, but is not limited to, other pointing devices (also referred to as pointer movement input devices) such as, track balls, touch pads, track point devices, styluses, joy sticks, light pens, customized keyboards 11 , etc.
- the pointing device 12 operates in conjunction with the display 15 and is used for selecting pointer movement and in particular direction of travel.
- FIGS. 2-4 illustrate exemplary displays 15 .
- displayed on the display screen 15 are multiple items 21 , 23 , 24 and 25 .
- Items 23 , 24 and 25 are possible target items.
- a pointer 27 as illustrated is positioned on an exemplary anchor or start position. Specifically, the pointer 27 is anchored on a selectable item 21 .
- Vector 22 references the direction of travel vector of pointer 27 determined by the control program based upon pointing device 12 input towards a target item 25 away from the initial anchor position 21 .
- the angle range 26 references a vector angle range bisected by the direction of travel vector 22 which effectively limits the area within which a target item may be located from amongst possible target items and within which the pointer 27 may be vectored by the automatic pointer position vectoring of the present invention.
- displayed on the display screen 15 are multiple items 31 , 33 , 34 and 35 and 41 , 43 , 44 , and 45 , respectively.
- Pointers 37 and 47 are set on anchor positions 31 and 41 .
- Angles 36 and 46 reference the vector angle ranges bisected by said direction of travel vectors 32 and 42 , respectively.
- the vector e.g., 22 , 32 and 42
- vector angle range e.g., 26 , 36 and 46
- the user may select a feature that provides for the vector and/or vector angle range to be displayed once the direction of travel is determined and until the target item is selected.
- the computer system 10 of FIG. 1 includes a software application (control program or control means) for controlling the GUI pointer automatic positioning vectoring of the present invention.
- the control program is adapted to extrapolate the location of the target item and to move the pointer to the target item. More particularly, the process used to extrapolate the location or the identity of the target item from amongst possible target items can be based upon the direction of travel vector, the vector angle range, additional user definable limits (e.g., user definable selectable items and/or sections of the display), and the probability that the item is the intended target item based upon the relative closeness of each possible target item to either the direction of travel vector, the initial anchor position or both, etc.
- additional user definable limits e.g., user definable selectable items and/or sections of the display
- control program may be adapted to identify the intended target item as that item which is closest to the initial anchor position on the direction of travel vector. If no possible items are found on the direction of travel vector than the intended target item is identified as that item closest to both the initial anchor position and the direction of travel vector. For example, referring to FIG.
- the location of the target item may be extrapolated as item 25 because it is within the vector angle range 26 , it is the closest item to the initial anchor position 21 and it is the closest item to the direction of travel vector 22 .
- the location of the target item may be extrapolated as item 35 because while item 34 is closer to the anchor position 31 , item 35 is located directly upon the direction of travel vector 32 .
- the location of the target item may be extrapolated as item 45 because the sum of the distance from the initial anchor position to the item ( 41 ⁇ 45 ; 41 ⁇ 44 ) plus the distance from the item to the direction of travel vector ( 45 ⁇ 42 ; 44 ⁇ 42 ) is lesser for item 45 than it is for item 44 .
- the control program moves the pointer directly to that intended target item by skipping space on the display. In other words, the pointer jumps to the located intended target item without requiring further manipulation of the pointer device 12 and without traveling across the display 15 .
- FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the general processes that may be utilized to carry out the various embodiments of the method of the present invention in conjunction with the computer system of FIG. 1 .
- the user is presented with a display 15 and may select (e.g., from a menu item, tool bar, etc.) whether or not to activate automatic pointer position vectoring 101 (i.e., automatic pointer movement). If the user does not want to activate automatic pointer position vectoring, the user will exit the program at process 102 .
- automatic pointer position vectoring 101 i.e., automatic pointer movement
- a user may exit 102 the automatic pointer position vectoring program by any number of methods.
- Exemplary exit methods include, but are not limited to, the following: clicking on a “Close” button (i.e., the square with an x in it at the top right of the program window); clicking a menu icon and selecting the “Close” option on the menu that scrolls down; using a the key sequence (e.g., Alt F4); clicking a “File” menu and then selecting the “Exit” option; right clicking the program's task bar button and selecting “Close” from a “Context” menu that opens; and, pressing the “Ctrl”, “Alt”, and “Del” keys simultaneously, opening up a menu of running programs, clicking on the program you want to close, and then clicking on the “End Task” button.
- a “Close” button i.e., the square with an x in it at the top right of the program window
- the user may also optionally define automatic pointer movement display features. If the user wants to define display features 114 , the user may select from a drop down menu or other menu a feature that provides for defining display features 115 . For example, the user may select that a vector and/or a vector angle range be visible on the display once the direction of travel is determined and until the target item is selected.
- the control program Upon activation of automatic pointer position vectoring 103 , the control program will control pointer movement within the display according to default or user defined movement parameters (see method steps 104 - 105 , 106 - 107 , 108 - 109 , 112 - 113 and 200 - 201 ) and user inputs 202 .
- a user inputs pointer movement 202 (e.g., input by moving a pointing device Ref. No. 120 , FIG. 1 ) having a general direction of travel on a display towards a target item (i.e., Ref. No. 25 , FIG. 2 ) away from the initial anchor position (i.e., Ref. No. 21 , FIG. 2 ).
- the control program determines a direction of travel vector (i.e., Ref. No. 22 , FIG. 2 ).
- the location of the intended target item from amongst possible intended target items can then be extrapolated and the pointer can be moved to the located intended target item.
- the process of automatically moving the pointer may be based in part upon default or user defined parameters (see processes 104 - 105 , 106 - 107 , 108 - 109 , 112 - 113 and 200 - 201 ).
- the user has the option of inputting multiple user defined parameters to be used by the control program in identifying the intended target item, moving the pointer to the intended target item and selecting the target item.
- the user may indicate that automatic selection of a target item (e.g., link, hyperlink, universal resource locator, icon, command button, menu item, task bar item, scroll bar item, etc.; Ref. 250 , FIG. 2 ) is desired once the pointer is moved to that item in order to retrieve the corresponding document, file webpage, web graphics, etc., or to initiate the command.
- a target item e.g., link, hyperlink, universal resource locator, icon, command button, menu item, task bar item, scroll bar item, etc.; Ref. 250 , FIG. 2
- automatic selection of the target item is desired 110 automatic item selection and retrieval will be activated 111 .
- no further manual operation e.g., clicking of a button on the pointing device 12
- the default setting may require manual selection of the acquired target item.
- the user may also optionally define an initial anchor point or starting position for the pointer on the display 15 (see processes 104 - 105 and 106 - 107 ).
- the user has the option of defining a particular selectable item (e.g., Uniform Resource Locator (URL), a link, hyperlink, icon, etc.) as the anchor or start point ( 104 - 105 ).
- the user may alternatively define a particular location on the display 15 (e.g., lower right hand corner, center screen, etc.) as the initial anchor or start point ( 106 - 107 ).
- the control program may define the current pointer position as the default position.
- the user may also optionally reset the default position.
- This initial anchor point or start position serves as the starting point from which the control program determines the direction of travel vector towards a target item based upon pointing device input.
- the user may optionally define vector sensitivity (see processes 108 - 109 ). If the user wants to define sensitivity 108 , defining sensitivity 109 may be accomplished by defining the vector angle range (see Ref. 26 , FIG. 2 ). The control program uses this vector angle range 26 to limit the area within which it may to identify a target item from amongst possible target items and move the pointer to that located target item.
- the direction of travel vector (see Ref. 22 , FIG. 2 ) beginning at the anchor point (see Ref. 21 , FIG. 2 ) and pointing in the direction of the input pointer movement towards a target item bisects the vector angle range 26 .
- Decreased sensitivity is established by defining a greater vector angle because this creates a broader area within which a target item on the display may be located.
- Increased sensitivity is established by defining a lesser vector angle because this creates a narrower area within which a target item on the display in may be located.
- the control program may define the default vector sensitivity and may apply the default vector sensitivity if the user does not want to define vector sensitivity at process 108 . The user may optionally reset the default.
- the user may also optionally activate a feature of selectable automatic vector sensitivity (see processes 112 - 113 ).
- This feature automatically decreases the default or user defined vector angle range by a pre-selected dimension and is triggered if there are more than a pre-selected number of possible target items located within the vector angle range.
- Activating this feature, selecting the dimension by which the vector angle range is decreased and selecting the number of target items located within the vector angle range that triggers this automatic feature can be accomplished by using a drop down or other menu.
- the user may also define other limitations to automatic pointer movement controlled by the control program (see processes 200 - 201 ). If the user wants to limit automatic pointer movement 200 , the user may define the particular type of selectable items to which a pointer may be moved or define the sections of the display which are active for purposes of automatic pointer position vectoring 201 . As with the other user definable parameters, the control program may define default pointer movement limitations (e.g., no limitations, no automatic movement to toolbars, etc.) which are set if the user does not want to define cursor limits. The user may optionally reset the default settings or redefine the limitations depending upon the display.
- default pointer movement limitations e.g., no limitations, no automatic movement to toolbars, etc.
- FIG. 6 is a flow diagram further illustrating the process of automatically moving the pointer 202 .
- the control program uses the vectoring parameters in conjunction with user input from a pointing device 12 having a general direction of travel on a display towards a target item (i.e., Ref. No. 25 , FIG. 2 ). Based upon user pointing device input 602 , the control program determines a direction of travel vector 604 away from the initial anchor position towards the intended target item, extrapolates the location of the intended target item 606 and automatically moves the pointer to that intended target item 608 .
- FIG. 7 is a flow diagram further illustrating the process 606 of extrapolating the location of the intended target item.
- the process used to extrapolate the location of the intended target item from amongst possible target items may be based upon a number of defined parameters.
- possible intended target items may be limited to default or user defined selectable items 702 .
- Possible intended target items may be limited to those items set within default or user defined sections of the display 704 .
- Possible intended target items may further be limited to those items set within a default or user defined vector angle range 706 . This vector angle range may automatically be decreased if more than a selected number of possible intended target items are found in the original vector angle range 707 .
- the target item may further be identified 710 using automatic vectoring parameters defined based upon probabilities. For example, the closer a possible target item is to the initial anchor position and to the direction of travel vector the more likely it is to be the target item.
- One exception is that a possible target item located directly on the direction of travel vector, but further away from the initial anchor position than another possible target item not located on the direction of travel vector, is more likely to be the intended target item.
- the control program automatically moves the pointer to that intended target item 608 by skipping space within the display without require additional manipulation of the pointing device.
- the pointer After the pointer is moved to a target item, either the target item will be automatically selected due to activation of item selection and retrieval 111 or the user may optionally manually select the corresponding file, document, web page, etc. If the user wishes to continue using automatic pointer position vectoring 203 , the user simply moves the pointer again 202 . If the user does not wish to continue using automatic pointer position vectoring, the user exits the program 102 (see the exemplary exit methods discussed above).
- one embodiment of the method of the present invention further defines the process of inputting pointer movement direction of travel towards a target item 202 .
- this method defines the pointing device as a keyboard-based pointing device (e.g., the arrow keys on a keyboard).
- pointer movement may be selected by simultaneously operating multiple keys on a keyboard, such as the “Shift” key 17 and one or more of the arrow keys 16 on a keyboard 11 .
- input from arrow keys has a direction of travel on the display towards an intended target item from an initial anchor position. Once a direction of travel input is received, a direction of travel vector is determined. Based upon the direction of travel vector, the location of the intended target item is extrapolated and the pointer is automatically moved to that intended target item.
- FIG. 8 A representative hardware environment for practicing the embodiments of the invention is depicted in FIG. 8 .
- the system comprises at least one processor or central processing unit (CPU) 810 .
- the CPUs 810 are interconnected via system bus 812 to various devices such as a random access memory (RAM) 814 , read-only memory (ROM) 816 , and an input/output (I/O) adapter 818 .
- RAM random access memory
- ROM read-only memory
- I/O input/output
- the I/O adapter 818 can connect to peripheral devices, such as disk units 811 and tape drives 813 , or other program storage devices that are readable by the system.
- the system can read the inventive instructions on the program storage devices and follow these instructions to execute the methodology of the embodiments of the invention.
- the system further includes a user interface adapter 819 that connects a keyboard 815 , mouse 817 , speaker 824 , microphone 822 , and/or other user interface devices such as a touch screen device (not shown) to the bus 812 to gather user input.
- a communication adapter 820 connects the bus 812 to a data processing network 825
- a display adapter 821 connects the bus 812 to a display device 823 which may be embodied as an output device such as a monitor, printer, or transmitter, for example.
- the method and computer system of the present invention provides for rapid and accurate automatic moving of a graphical user interface pointer to an intended target item on a display by extrapolating the location of the intended target item based upon default and/or user defined parameters and pointing device inputs. Once the location of the item is extrapolated the pointer is automatically moved to the item. As illustrated, the method and system minimizes pointer drifting and reduces the time and effort required to move the pointer manually.
Abstract
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates generally to graphical user interfaces and more particularly to a method and system for vectoring a pointer to a target item on a graphical user interface display.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is a computer program designed to allow a computer user to interact easily with the computer. GUI systems such as Microsoft Windows® and Apple Macintosh® include the following basic features: a display screen, a pointer, selectable items and a pointing device. The pointer (also sometimes referred to as a cursor) is a small symbol that usually appears on the display screen as an angled arrow. The pointer is moveable via a pointing device to selectable items such as links, hyperlinks, universal resource locators, icons, command buttons, menu items, task bar items, scroll bar item and the like. A pointing device is a mouse, track ball, pad, track point device, joy stick, stylus, light pen, or other device that allows a user to input pointer movement and to select an item on the display.
- The process of moving a GUI pointer to the desired selectable item by moving a pointing device may at times be tedious. Unintentional movements of the pointing input device often cause the pointer to drift away from the desired selectable time. Additionally, the required process is time-consuming. It is desirable to provide a method and computer system for rapid and accurate automatic vectoring of a graphical user interface pointer. Such a method and system should minimize pointer drifting and reduce the time and effort required to move the pointer manually.
- The present invention comprises a method and computer system for controlling movement of a pointer on a graphical user interface display by automatically vectoring the pointer to a target item. One embodiment of the method receives a keyboard-based pointer movement input having a direction of travel on a display towards a target item, such as a link, hyperlink, universal resource locator, icon, command button, menu item, task bar item, tool bar item, scroll bar item, etc. Using a vectoring process, the invention vectors the pointer on the display to a located target item. The location of the target item from amongst possible target items on the display can be extrapolated based upon programmed limitations (e.g., user definable selectable items and/or sections on the display, a vector angle range, the relative closeness of each possible target item to either the direction of travel vector, the initial anchor position or both, etc.). In other words, upon receiving a direction of travel input, the control program locates the target item and jumps the pointer directly to that target item on the display. The keyboard-based pointer movement of this embodiment can include simultaneous operation of multiple keys on a keyboard such as the “Shift” key and one or more of the arrow keys on a keyboard.
- Another embodiment of the method establishes vector sensitivity to limit pointer movement. The user establishes vector sensitivity by defining a vector angle range. The pointer movement input is received again via a keyboard-based input device or via another input device (e.g., a mouse, track ball, pad, track point device, stylus, joy stick, light pen, etc.) and a direction of travel vector is determined. The vector angle range is an angle that is bisected by the direction of travel vector. The intended target item may only be identified from amongst possible target items found within the area of the vector angle range and the pointer may thus only be vectored (i.e., jumped) to a target item within this area. Decreased sensitivity is established by defining a greater vector angle range, because this creates a broader area within which a target item on the display may be located and vice versa.
- In another embodiment of the method the user may limit pointer movement by defining the items or the sections of the display to which the pointer may be automatically vectored. In another embodiment of the method the user may activate automatic selection of selectable items. Thus, once a pointer is vectored to a target item that item is automatically selected.
- One embodiment of the computer system of the invention comprises a central processing unit with a graphical user interface and a display with selectable items (e.g., a link, hyperlink, universal resource locator, icon, command button, menu item, task bar item, tool bar item, scroll bar item, etc.) and a pointer. A pointer movement input device (e.g., a mouse, track ball, pad, track point device, stylus, joy stick, light pen, customized keyboard, etc.) operates in conjunction with the display and is used for inputting pointer movement. The computer system further comprises a controller that determines a direction of travel vector towards a target item based upon pointing device input, extrapolates the location of the target item, and moves the pointer to that target item. The process used to extrapolate the location of the target item from amongst possible target items can be based upon the direction of travel vector, vector sensitivity, additional user definable or default limits (e.g., user definable selectable items and/or sections of the display), and the relative closeness of each possible target item to either the direction of travel vector, the initial anchor position or both, etc. Lastly, a user may elect that the controller automatically selects a selectable target item upon moving the pointer to that target item.
- These, and other, aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating embodiments of the present invention and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.
- The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:
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FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustration of one embodiment of a computer system of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary display; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another exemplary display; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating another exemplary display; -
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating several embodiments of the present invention; -
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram further illustrating a method process ofFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram further illustrating a method process ofFIG. 6 ; and -
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the invention. - The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.
- The present invention comprises a method and computer system for accurately controlling movement of a pointer on a graphical user interface display. The invention as described herein applies to all GUI based operating systems (e.g. Linux®, MS Windows®, Unix®, Apple Macintosh® etc.).
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FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustration of an exemplary embodiment of acomputer system 10 according to the present invention. Thecomputer system 10 includes acentral processing unit 14, avideo monitor 13, anoptional keyboard 11 and apointing device 12. Thesystem 10 further comprises a graphical user interface with adisplay 15 having selectable items (e.g., a link, hyperlink, universal resource locator, icon, command button, menu item, task bar item, tool bar, scroll bar item, etc.) and a pointer (also referred to as a cursor). Thesystem 10 further comprises a software application having an automatic pointer position vectoring control program. Thedisplay 15 is illustrated inFIG. 2 and described in greater detail below. Theexemplary computer system 10 illustrated inFIG. 1 comprises a personal computer; however, the invention may incorporate, but is not limited to, personal computers, laptops, workstations, or hand held computers including palm pilots, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, smart telephones, etc. Anexemplary pointing device 12 illustrated inFIG. 1 is a mouse; however, the pointing device may be, but is not limited to, other pointing devices (also referred to as pointer movement input devices) such as, track balls, touch pads, track point devices, styluses, joy sticks, light pens, customizedkeyboards 11, etc. Thepointing device 12 operates in conjunction with thedisplay 15 and is used for selecting pointer movement and in particular direction of travel. -
FIGS. 2-4 illustrate exemplary displays 15. Referring toFIG. 2 , displayed on thedisplay screen 15 aremultiple items Items pointer 27 as illustrated is positioned on an exemplary anchor or start position. Specifically, thepointer 27 is anchored on aselectable item 21.Vector 22 references the direction of travel vector ofpointer 27 determined by the control program based upon pointingdevice 12 input towards atarget item 25 away from theinitial anchor position 21. Theangle range 26 references a vector angle range bisected by the direction oftravel vector 22 which effectively limits the area within which a target item may be located from amongst possible target items and within which thepointer 27 may be vectored by the automatic pointer position vectoring of the present invention. Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4 , displayed on thedisplay screen 15 aremultiple items Pointers anchor positions Angles travel vectors - The vector (e.g., 22, 32 and 42) and vector angle range (e.g., 26, 36 and 46) may optionally be displayed on the
display 15. For example, the user may select a feature that provides for the vector and/or vector angle range to be displayed once the direction of travel is determined and until the target item is selected. - As stated above, the
computer system 10 ofFIG. 1 includes a software application (control program or control means) for controlling the GUI pointer automatic positioning vectoring of the present invention. The control program is adapted to extrapolate the location of the target item and to move the pointer to the target item. More particularly, the process used to extrapolate the location or the identity of the target item from amongst possible target items can be based upon the direction of travel vector, the vector angle range, additional user definable limits (e.g., user definable selectable items and/or sections of the display), and the probability that the item is the intended target item based upon the relative closeness of each possible target item to either the direction of travel vector, the initial anchor position or both, etc. The closer a possible target item is to the initial anchor position and to the direction of travel vector the more likely it is to be the intended target item. One exception is that a possible target item located directly on the direction of travel vector, but further away from the initial anchor position than another possible target item not on the direction of travel vector, is more likely to be the intended target item. Therefore, the control program may be adapted to identify the intended target item as that item which is closest to the initial anchor position on the direction of travel vector. If no possible items are found on the direction of travel vector than the intended target item is identified as that item closest to both the initial anchor position and the direction of travel vector. For example, referring toFIG. 2 , the location of the target item may be extrapolated asitem 25 because it is within thevector angle range 26, it is the closest item to theinitial anchor position 21 and it is the closest item to the direction oftravel vector 22. Referring toFIG. 3 , the location of the target item may be extrapolated asitem 35 because whileitem 34 is closer to theanchor position 31,item 35 is located directly upon the direction oftravel vector 32. Referring toFIG. 4 , the location of the target item may be extrapolated asitem 45 because the sum of the distance from the initial anchor position to the item (41□45; 41ε44) plus the distance from the item to the direction of travel vector (45□42; 44□42) is lesser foritem 45 than it is foritem 44. Once the intended target item is located, the control program moves the pointer directly to that intended target item by skipping space on the display. In other words, the pointer jumps to the located intended target item without requiring further manipulation of thepointer device 12 and without traveling across thedisplay 15. -
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the general processes that may be utilized to carry out the various embodiments of the method of the present invention in conjunction with the computer system ofFIG. 1 . Referring in combination toFIGS. 1 through 5 , after the computer system is started up 100, the user is presented with adisplay 15 and may select (e.g., from a menu item, tool bar, etc.) whether or not to activate automatic pointer position vectoring 101 (i.e., automatic pointer movement). If the user does not want to activate automatic pointer position vectoring, the user will exit the program atprocess 102. - As with other programs a user may exit 102 the automatic pointer position vectoring program by any number of methods. Exemplary exit methods include, but are not limited to, the following: clicking on a “Close” button (i.e., the square with an x in it at the top right of the program window); clicking a menu icon and selecting the “Close” option on the menu that scrolls down; using a the key sequence (e.g., Alt F4); clicking a “File” menu and then selecting the “Exit” option; right clicking the program's task bar button and selecting “Close” from a “Context” menu that opens; and, pressing the “Ctrl”, “Alt”, and “Del” keys simultaneously, opening up a menu of running programs, clicking on the program you want to close, and then clicking on the “End Task” button.
- The user may also optionally define automatic pointer movement display features. If the user wants to define display features 114, the user may select from a drop down menu or other menu a feature that provides for defining display features 115. For example, the user may select that a vector and/or a vector angle range be visible on the display once the direction of travel is determined and until the target item is selected.
- Upon activation of automatic pointer position vectoring 103, the control program will control pointer movement within the display according to default or user defined movement parameters (see method steps 104-105, 106-107, 108-109, 112-113 and 200-201) and
user inputs 202. In general, a user inputs pointer movement 202 (e.g., input by moving a pointing device Ref. No. 120,FIG. 1 ) having a general direction of travel on a display towards a target item (i.e., Ref. No. 25,FIG. 2 ) away from the initial anchor position (i.e., Ref. No. 21,FIG. 2 ). Based upon this input the control program determines a direction of travel vector (i.e., Ref. No. 22,FIG. 2 ). The location of the intended target item from amongst possible intended target items can then be extrapolated and the pointer can be moved to the located intended target item. The process of automatically moving the pointer may be based in part upon default or user defined parameters (see processes 104-105, 106-107, 108-109, 112-113 and 200-201). - More particularly, once automatic pointer position vectoring is activated 100, the user has the option of inputting multiple user defined parameters to be used by the control program in identifying the intended target item, moving the pointer to the intended target item and selecting the target item.
- For example, the user may indicate that automatic selection of a target item (e.g., link, hyperlink, universal resource locator, icon, command button, menu item, task bar item, scroll bar item, etc.; Ref. 250,
FIG. 2 ) is desired once the pointer is moved to that item in order to retrieve the corresponding document, file webpage, web graphics, etc., or to initiate the command. If automatic selection of the target item is desired 110 automatic item selection and retrieval will be activated 111. Thus, no further manual operation (e.g., clicking of a button on the pointing device 12) by the user will be required once a pointer is moved to a target item (i.e., Ref. No. 25,FIG. 2 ). In one embodiment, the default setting may require manual selection of the acquired target item. - The user may also optionally define an initial anchor point or starting position for the pointer on the display 15 (see processes 104-105 and 106-107). The user has the option of defining a particular selectable item (e.g., Uniform Resource Locator (URL), a link, hyperlink, icon, etc.) as the anchor or start point (104-105). The user may alternatively define a particular location on the display 15 (e.g., lower right hand corner, center screen, etc.) as the initial anchor or start point (106-107). If the user does not want to define an initial anchor point or start position, the control program may define the current pointer position as the default position. The user may also optionally reset the default position. This initial anchor point or start position serves as the starting point from which the control program determines the direction of travel vector towards a target item based upon pointing device input.
- In addition, the user may optionally define vector sensitivity (see processes 108-109). If the user wants to define
sensitivity 108, definingsensitivity 109 may be accomplished by defining the vector angle range (see Ref. 26,FIG. 2 ). The control program uses thisvector angle range 26 to limit the area within which it may to identify a target item from amongst possible target items and move the pointer to that located target item. The direction of travel vector (see Ref. 22,FIG. 2 ) beginning at the anchor point (see Ref. 21,FIG. 2 ) and pointing in the direction of the input pointer movement towards a target item bisects thevector angle range 26. Decreased sensitivity is established by defining a greater vector angle because this creates a broader area within which a target item on the display may be located. Increased sensitivity is established by defining a lesser vector angle because this creates a narrower area within which a target item on the display in may be located. Thus, depending on the particular display and the density of selectable items within the display, the user may choose to increase or decrease vector sensitivity. The control program may define the default vector sensitivity and may apply the default vector sensitivity if the user does not want to define vector sensitivity atprocess 108. The user may optionally reset the default. - The user may also optionally activate a feature of selectable automatic vector sensitivity (see processes 112-113). This feature automatically decreases the default or user defined vector angle range by a pre-selected dimension and is triggered if there are more than a pre-selected number of possible target items located within the vector angle range. Activating this feature, selecting the dimension by which the vector angle range is decreased and selecting the number of target items located within the vector angle range that triggers this automatic feature can be accomplished by using a drop down or other menu.
- Similarly, the user may also define other limitations to automatic pointer movement controlled by the control program (see processes 200-201). If the user wants to limit
automatic pointer movement 200, the user may define the particular type of selectable items to which a pointer may be moved or define the sections of the display which are active for purposes of automatic pointer position vectoring 201. As with the other user definable parameters, the control program may define default pointer movement limitations (e.g., no limitations, no automatic movement to toolbars, etc.) which are set if the user does not want to define cursor limits. The user may optionally reset the default settings or redefine the limitations depending upon the display. - As stated above, once the automatic pointer movement parameters are established (processes 104-105, 106-107, 108-109, 112-113 and 200-201), the user moves the pointing device and thus the pointer in the direction of the intended target item. The pointer is then automatically moved to that intended
target item 202.FIG. 6 is a flow diagram further illustrating the process of automatically moving thepointer 202. In order to automatically move the pointer, the control program uses the vectoring parameters in conjunction with user input from apointing device 12 having a general direction of travel on a display towards a target item (i.e., Ref. No. 25,FIG. 2 ). Based upon userpointing device input 602, the control program determines a direction oftravel vector 604 away from the initial anchor position towards the intended target item, extrapolates the location of the intendedtarget item 606 and automatically moves the pointer to that intendedtarget item 608. -
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram further illustrating theprocess 606 of extrapolating the location of the intended target item. As discussed in detail above, the process used to extrapolate the location of the intended target item from amongst possible target items may be based upon a number of defined parameters. For example, possible intended target items may be limited to default or user definedselectable items 702. Possible intended target items may be limited to those items set within default or user defined sections of thedisplay 704. Possible intended target items may further be limited to those items set within a default or user definedvector angle range 706. This vector angle range may automatically be decreased if more than a selected number of possible intended target items are found in the originalvector angle range 707. Then, the relative closeness of each possible target item to the initial anchor position, the direction of travel vector, or both, is compared 708. The target item may further be identified 710 using automatic vectoring parameters defined based upon probabilities. For example, the closer a possible target item is to the initial anchor position and to the direction of travel vector the more likely it is to be the target item. One exception is that a possible target item located directly on the direction of travel vector, but further away from the initial anchor position than another possible target item not located on the direction of travel vector, is more likely to be the intended target item. Again referring toFIG. 6 , once the location of the target item is identified, the control program automatically moves the pointer to that intendedtarget item 608 by skipping space within the display without require additional manipulation of the pointing device. - After the pointer is moved to a target item, either the target item will be automatically selected due to activation of item selection and
retrieval 111 or the user may optionally manually select the corresponding file, document, web page, etc. If the user wishes to continue using automatic pointer position vectoring 203, the user simply moves the pointer again 202. If the user does not wish to continue using automatic pointer position vectoring, the user exits the program 102 (see the exemplary exit methods discussed above). - Again referring in combination to
FIGS. 1 through 5 , one embodiment of the method of the present invention further defines the process of inputting pointer movement direction of travel towards atarget item 202. Specifically, this method defines the pointing device as a keyboard-based pointing device (e.g., the arrow keys on a keyboard). For example, pointer movement may be selected by simultaneously operating multiple keys on a keyboard, such as the “Shift” key 17 and one or more of thearrow keys 16 on akeyboard 11. As with other pointing devices, input from arrow keys has a direction of travel on the display towards an intended target item from an initial anchor position. Once a direction of travel input is received, a direction of travel vector is determined. Based upon the direction of travel vector, the location of the intended target item is extrapolated and the pointer is automatically moved to that intended target item. - A representative hardware environment for practicing the embodiments of the invention is depicted in
FIG. 8 . This schematic drawing illustrates a hardware configuration of an information handling/computer system in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. The system comprises at least one processor or central processing unit (CPU) 810. TheCPUs 810 are interconnected viasystem bus 812 to various devices such as a random access memory (RAM) 814, read-only memory (ROM) 816, and an input/output (I/O)adapter 818. The I/O adapter 818 can connect to peripheral devices, such asdisk units 811 and tape drives 813, or other program storage devices that are readable by the system. The system can read the inventive instructions on the program storage devices and follow these instructions to execute the methodology of the embodiments of the invention. The system further includes a user interface adapter 819 that connects akeyboard 815,mouse 817,speaker 824,microphone 822, and/or other user interface devices such as a touch screen device (not shown) to thebus 812 to gather user input. Additionally, acommunication adapter 820 connects thebus 812 to adata processing network 825, and adisplay adapter 821 connects thebus 812 to adisplay device 823 which may be embodied as an output device such as a monitor, printer, or transmitter, for example. - The method and computer system of the present invention provides for rapid and accurate automatic moving of a graphical user interface pointer to an intended target item on a display by extrapolating the location of the intended target item based upon default and/or user defined parameters and pointing device inputs. Once the location of the item is extrapolated the pointer is automatically moved to the item. As illustrated, the method and system minimizes pointer drifting and reduces the time and effort required to move the pointer manually.
- While the invention has been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Claims (37)
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US20130305193A1 (en) | 2013-11-14 |
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